Just one more thing about that “feeling pretty” business…

When I was just starting out in the working world, one of my paychecks, probably in its entirety, went to buying myself a new leather coat—my first. And, as new clothing is known to do for girls in their 20s, it indeed put a fresh bounce in my step as I headed off for work.

I had built an entire “outfit” (or, as my brother used to call each of my ensembles: a “costume”) from head to toe that played off this hip-length, caramel-colored, creamy smooth, fabulous-fitting jacket di tutti jackets. Yes, I was feeling fine and inviting any and all admiration as I stood there waiting for my bus.

Now, I lived in the Northwest at the time, and as any self-respecting Seattleite knows, you do not even go out on the porch in a jacket such as mine without first Scotchgarding it to within an inch of its life. And that was the case on this particular morning, so when I felt a little rain, I thought nothing of it, and it did nothing to dampen my feeling of elation. I was in the right mood to notice people were noticing me,…and they were,…and I was loving it!

In my jubilation (do you remember how a new piece of clothing could make you feel that good!?), when I got to work I swung in through the doors like Mary freakin’ Tyler Moore! I immediately began, like a heat-seeking missile, to hunt down the guy that I currently had a crush on. As I hurried along, in all my glory, I paused only once, to glance at my image in a mirror that I passed. I fully expected confirmation of a perfect picture.

What I saw, however, stopped me cold.

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